Current and former reporters gather in downtown Baton Rouge, not to break the latest news, but to rehearse for the 73rd annual Gridiron Show.

The 2025 Gridiron Show takes place on March 21 at the American Legion Hall, 1515 S. Wooddale Blvd., in Baton Rouge. Hosted by the Louisiana Capital Correspondents Association, the production is an “SNL” style satire show on Louisiana’s politics. The show is a fundraiser to raise money for a journalism scholarship, with the proceeds typically going to an LSU student.

This year’s production is dedicated to longtime Advocate news columnist Smiley Anders, who passed away in May 2024. Anders began performing in the Gridiron show in 1973, leaving a big impact on the cast and the community that read his articles every morning.

On the far side of the rehearsal room, a life-size cutout of Anders watches the cast practice. There will be Anders memorabilia at the show, including baby pictures provided by his widow Katherine Scales Anders, as well as programs dating back to his first show.

“Smiley was always willing to give it his best,” Gridiron’s director Ronnie Stutes, who has been with the production since 1994, said.

The two weeks leading up to the show are spent rehearsing, with the cast fine-tuning its jokes, songs and lines. The production ends up with a few skits about the governor and other elected officials, LSU, the Saints and more.

Louisiana Illuminator reporter and former LSU Reveille editor-in-chief Piper Hutchinson said that the target of the jokes usually end up coming to the show, paying money to watch the reporters make fun of them.

“All of the obvious, crazy Louisiana things are going to get a mention in the show,” Hutchinson said. “Louisiana is really unique in that there is a very close relationship between the politicians and the Capital Press Corps. We have fun together.”

Attendees in previous years have included Edwin Edwards, John Bel Edwards and many other figures from Louisiana’s government. Members of the cast throughout the years have been influential journalists who have worked at publications ranging from the Advocate to ABC. Cast member Marsha Shuler, who has been a part of Gridiron Show since 1981, will be inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in April 2025, making her the longest running cast member.

Some Louisiana politicians love the show enough that they request to be written in. This year’s set can’t be completely given away, but Hutchinson shared that audiences can expect bits on recent events such as LSU’s favorite tiger and even something about the 10 Commandments.

Not only does the audience get a good laugh out of the show, but the cast has just as good of a time putting it together. Numerous members mentioned how most of them can’t really sing. Shuler said it’s the commitment to the bit that gets the people laughing, even if they don’t understand politics.

“Some of us range from wearing tuxedos to being dressed as chickens on stage,” Hutchinson said. “So if the audience wants to come as chickens too, that’s perfectly fine.”

Russ Wise, former ABC broadcast journalist, drives 45 minutes from LaPlace, Louisiana, to make it to rehearsals. Wise has been with the show for 30 to 40 years, and he keeps coming back because the show pokes the establishment in the eye and makes it laugh at the same time. And also for the laughs.

Other cast members have also been with Gridiron for decades. President of the Capital Correspondents Association Mike Hasten has been performing since 1987, while Gloria Leggio has been producing the show for 55 years. This long-term dedication is the same for many others in the group.

“One thing about theater is that you got to be there to see it,” Stutes said.

Tickets are $30, and the show will begin at 7:45 p.m. on March 21, 2025. Tickets can be purchased here.